San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-09-14


about In the pOliticalworld aswell as the long
absent husband of GwendOline. She was
nervous aud agtated, and talked TO me rest
lessly Of him. lie was 50 good and honor
able and steadfast; and her piteOus eyes
sought my face, asking me more plainly
than words IL | thought he could forgive her
and love her.
She gave orders TO the maid for her most
becoming dress, and put jewels which he
had given her, and which she had not worn
for a twelvemOnth, on her white neck and
arms, and looked at herself in the glass,
wondering II size had lost the beauty which
won him. or II in the days Of her rebeliOuS-
ness he had learned to despise il.
When he arrived, she did not press for
ward b. welcome him. but stood a little back
from the group in the hall, bright color
Pickering in her fair cheeks, her large eyes
sparkling and flashing with golden light,
her golden hair glowing beneath the CLEAN
of lamp, and In 1t one great crimson flow
er OF the color Of the rich velvet that trim
med her shimmering white dress.
| saw that his portrait had told me no lies.
The tall well-built man with the decided
mouth and the keen eyes was man 10 re-
spect; his voice was honest and pleasant to
the ear, the clasp of his hand was firm, and
his tones were kind AMI clear lie greeted
his sisters-in-law with brOtherly friendli-
ness, but his eyes sought his wife at once.
And when he saw her, and saw too the ex-
preston OF her face, there came sOftness
and gladness into his own that made 1t
handsome. He strobe across the hall TO her,
and took her in his arms and kissed her.
At dinner Gilbert and Uric Joined us.
scarcely know how it went of; but l knew
that Gwendoline was battling with happi-
ness against a few remaining fears. The
presence of Lord Martin, almost stranger
to three of us, threw a certain reserve over
our talk, and was nervous and beginning
TO dread what miserable results might fol-
low If Crawford Garden should break his
word and seek b divide this newly-unlted
husband and wife. could not help watch
Ing them and wondering what would hap
pen; would he forgive her folly?
"You are very quiet tonight" Hilda sud
denly said to me. 81 suppose 1t Is because
Of your position as the hostess as lady OF
the Grange"
Lord Martin looked across the table ut me
as she spoke in a clear bell-like voice, with
little smile on her proud lips. His eyes
were very searching, even in cursory
glance, but they were kind; he might have
expected the Grange as his wife's fortune,
but he showed nothing but the most cOurte-
Gus consideration for me.
felt the color rising In my face, the hot
ter for the laugh l attempted in answer. l
was surprised by Hilda's remark, for 1t
was not often she addressed me, and never
could remember that she had thus openly
and smilingly alluded to Gilbert's inherit
ance / did not know this was but part of
determined scheme.
When dinner was over, the gentlemen
Joined us directly in the drawing-rOOm. An
mis- and Uric, Lord Martin and GwendOline,
sat together and laughed and talked, and
Lord Martin told of his life abroad.
''Shall you be willing, GwendOline," he
asked, ito 90 hack with me and share all
the little depriyatiOns life abroad must
have? They shall BE- as few as 1t Is possible
TO make them, and there are many atOning
pleasures. | hope you can make up your
mind to 1t; and he looked at her earnestly.
She answered, in very low, trembling ac-
cents
'If you will have me-"
Hida was at the piano, and she had sum
mOned Gilbert 10 her side TO turn over the
pages of her music, and was carrying on
light conversation with him. Her pink
dress, with its full sleeves and square bodice
and thick white ruff, as In picture by some
old master, suited to perfection her fair face
and pale yellow hair, dressed high and en-
twined pearls.
looked at the dainty Dresden clock on
the mantelpiece; its hands pointed to five
minutes to nine. No one seemed to be heed
ing me greatly, so l slipped out Of the bril-
liant room, with its pictures and china and
velvet seats, its flOwer-scented music-laden
air.
Out of doors the night was warm and still
and fine. There was no wind to chill me,
and indeed | was in a fever-heat as | stole
through the dark cOpSe, hearing the music
grow fainter and fainter to my ears, and
casting one look back at the light streaming
through the windows upon the terrace-walk.
IcOuld still see its CLEAN through the trees
when | stood by the shrubbery wicket
Mr.. Garden was not there, and when pres
entity he appeared, he was full of apologies,
to which l paid no heed. Then he began
asking a variety of questions concerning
Lord Martin.
Mr.. Garden" said, they will answer
all these questions at the Grange. You know
what have come for. Please do not detain
me longer than necessary"
"a thousand pardonsi | will not keep
you an unnecessary moment" he answered.
did not guess the delay was necessary to
him; he was only waiting for the curtains
to be drawn across the bright cleaning win
dow, precOncerted signal. He drew forth
the letters.
"YOu have been playing with edged tools"
he said. You knew loved you; you knew
you were leading me to suppose that was
not distasteful to you"
How dare you say sop interrupted
passiOnately.
do not be angry with me now" he said.
"YOu have chosen otherwise, and |, of
course, am bound to accept that decision.
But you have treated me very hardly; can
you deny it? Was it fair and womanly to
tempt me with such letters as thesep What
If Gilbert GascOigne heard of your conduct,
or Lord Martin of his wife'sP''
1t seemed safer to keep silent than to try
to answer his questions; so kept silent.
81 soon," he went on, 'fathomed the little
plot, and to you, not Gwendoline, yielded
to you, not GwendOline, l consented to
give the letters back. You say 1t was her
thought, this plot to entrap me, TO show you
could firt with her when she chose to
commence the filtration; and l can but ac-
cept lady's word. But it is proof, Viola,
that you did love me if you caused Gwendo-
line TO resort to such subterfuge. II was
natural she should vilify me to save the
Grange for her cousin against the wish OF
Richard Gascoigne, whose happiest conyic-
ton was that l. whom he pleased to call his
faithful friend, had won you. do not won
der at Gwendoline POmerOy's man9uvres;